Congolese teenager racially attacked in a school in Cyprus

The Cyprus (south) Ministry of Education said it is investigating a racist attack against a 14-year-old pupil from Congo that took place in a Larnaca secondary school on Wednesday, March 8.

The education ministry said classmates threw schoolbags and a chair at him while a teacher nonchalantly walked by.

In an announcement on Friday, the Ministry said that it has opened a probe into the incident and has reiterated guidelines on school violence, delinquency and racism to the education unit in question.

According to Alpha TV, the pupil’s family, who is from Congo, filed a complaint saying that the 14-year-old was the victim of a racist-fuelled attack.

In a video released on social media, pupils at the school are seen throwing schoolbags, a trash can and a chair at the teenager, while hurling racist insults at him.

Alpha TV reported that the boy was attacked after refusing to get up from his seat for another boy who demanded to sit there.

Commenting on the incident, the head of the Congolese Association of Cyprus Ioule Totoro said that the boy was sitting outside on a chair and was then approached by another student who demanded to sit in the chair.

The 14-year-old victim of the attack said that he sat there first.

She added that then the other children told him: “Get out of here you black kid.”

Police were called to the scene, following the attack, but no complaint was filed by the boy’s family, and that those involved were only given suspensions.

Totoro said that the boy was taken to the police station following the attack, where his mother came to get him.

“The boy’s mother was crying a lot, and she told be that she wants to file a complaint. She [the mother] said it is dangerous if they [the students] do it again,” Totoro said.

The victim had scrapes on his head, and he was taken to hospital after.

Following the incident, the district school office was informed and a team including child psychologists, was formed to deal with the incident.

Commenting on Friday, the ministry said: “Clear instructions were given to the school unit on how to manage the incident, following the protocols for dealing with violence, delinquency, and racist behaviour in schools. At the same time, a thorough investigation is being conducted into the incident and educational measures are being taken for the benefit of the students.”